Archbishop Peter was born as Paul L'Huillier on [[December 3]], 1926, in Paris, France. He embraced the Orthodox faith in 1945 while enrolled at the [[Seminaries#France|St. Denys Institute]] in Paris. His Eminence also did graduate work at the University of Paris and received a Licentiate of [[Theology]] from the [[Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]] in 1962 and a Doctorate of [[Canons (law)|Canon Law]] degree in 1985.

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Archbishop Peter was born as Paul L'Huillier on [[December 3]], 1926, in Paris, France. He embraced the Orthodox faith in 1945 while enrolled at the [[Seminaries#France|St. Denys Institute]] in Paris. L'Huillier also did graduate work at the University of Paris and received a Licentiate of [[Theology]] from the [[Seminary|Moscow Theological Academy]] in 1962 and a Doctorate of [[Canons (law)|Canon Law]] degree in 1985.

The archbishop began his ecclesiastical life on [[August 30]], 1954, when he was [[tonsure]]d [[Monk]] Peter. On [[September 4]] and [[September 5|5]], 1954, he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]] and [[hieromonk]] by Abp. Boris, [[Exarch]] of the Russian [[Patriarchate]] in Europe. His priestly work took place at two Orthodox churches in Paris, Three Hierarchs and the Church of our Lady the Joy of Those who Sorrow. In 1960, Abp. Peter was elevated to the rank of [[Archimandrite]]. On [[September 12]], 1968, the [[feast]] of St. [[Alexander Nevsky]] at the former St. Alexander Nevsky [[Monastery]] (Lavra) in St. Petersburg (then called Leningrad), Abp. Peter was consecrated Bishop of Chersonese. Participating at that consecration were the Metropolitan of Leningrad, Nikodim (Rotov) and [[Metropolitan]] [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh]].

The archbishop began his ecclesiastical life on [[August 30]], 1954, when he was [[tonsure]]d [[Monk]] Peter. On [[September 4]] and [[September 5|5]], 1954, he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]] and [[hieromonk]] by Abp. Boris, [[Exarch]] of the Russian [[Patriarchate]] in Europe. His priestly work took place at two Orthodox churches in Paris, Three Hierarchs and the Church of our Lady the Joy of Those who Sorrow. In 1960, Abp. Peter was elevated to the rank of [[Archimandrite]]. On [[September 12]], 1968, the [[feast]] of St. [[Alexander Nevsky]] at the former St. Alexander Nevsky [[Monastery]] (Lavra) in St. Petersburg (then called Leningrad), Abp. Peter was consecrated Bishop of Chersonese. Participating at that consecration were the Metropolitan of Leningrad, Nikodim (Rotov) and [[Metropolitan]] [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh]].

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As [[bishop]], he was a member of the mother Church which granted [[autocephaly]] to the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. In 1979, he was invited to come to the young autocephalous church by His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius. He was designated as an [[auxiliary bishop]] to the Metropolitan, with the title of "Bishop of Brooklyn" until 1981.

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As [[bishop]], he was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, which granted [[autocephaly]] to the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. In 1979, he was invited to come to the young autocephalous church by His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius. He was designated as an [[auxiliary bishop]] to the Metropolitan, with the title of "Bishop of Brooklyn" until 1981.

In 1981, when the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops established the new diocese of Washington, DC, for the seat of the Primate, he was installed as the Bishop of the remaining part of the Metropolitan's former local diocese with the title "Bishop of New York and New Jersey." In 1990, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America bestowed on him the title of Archbishop of New York and New Jersey.

In 1981, when the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops established the new diocese of Washington, DC, for the seat of the Primate, he was installed as the Bishop of the remaining part of the Metropolitan's former local diocese with the title "Bishop of New York and New Jersey." In 1990, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America bestowed on him the title of Archbishop of New York and New Jersey.

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Abp. Peter's linguistic fluency (in four languages), his formal degree in the Orthodox canonical traditions, his familiarity with varieties of ethnic and national Orthodox customs, made him one of the more academically involved Orthodox [[hierarch]]s worldwide. He also chaired the OCA's External Affairs Department for many years.

Abp. Peter's linguistic fluency (in four languages), his formal degree in the Orthodox canonical traditions, his familiarity with varieties of ethnic and national Orthodox customs, made him one of the more academically involved Orthodox [[hierarch]]s worldwide. He also chaired the OCA's External Affairs Department for many years.

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In the academic world, he lectured at the Institute of St. Denys, Paris, France, from 1949 to 1950. From 1952 to 1962, he taught at the Three Hierarchs Seminary in Villemoisson, France. He was a Professor at the Catholic University in Paris from 1966 to 1978. He was Adjunct Professor of Canon Law at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]], Crestwood, New York, since 1979. As a specialist in Orthodox Canon Law, Archbishop Peter occupied prominent positions. His final book, published by St. Vladimir's Press, urged the Orthodox Churches to adopt the Western Christian calculation of Easter, aka [[Paschalion]]. This has been a controversial topic for some time in Eastern Orthodoxy circles. Some critics of Archbishop Peter's book, and others in its vein, emphasize that only the Eastern Paschalion holds to the Nicene Council's 4th century prohibition of celebrating the Resurrection before the Jewish Passover. Some even argued that abandonment of that stipulation implies a subtle subtext of anti-Semitism, since it would further decouples the connection between Christianity and Judiasm from a historical perspective as well as ignore contemporary Jews' calculation Passover.

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In the academic world, he lectured at the Institute of St. Denys, Paris, France, from 1949 to 1950. From 1952 to 1962, he taught at the Three Hierarchs Seminary in Villemoisson, France. He was a Professor at the Catholic University in Paris from 1966 to 1978. He was Adjunct Professor of Canon Law at [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Seminary]], Crestwood, New York, since 1979. As a specialist in Orthodox Canon Law, Archbishop Peter occupied prominent positions. His final book, published by St. Vladimir's Press, urged the Orthodox Churches to adopt the Western Christian calculation of Easter, aka [[Paschalion]]. This has been a controversial topic for some time in Eastern Orthodox circles. Some critics of Archbishop Peter's book, and others in its vein, emphasized that only the Eastern Paschalion holds to the Nicene Council's 4th century prohibition of celebrating the Resurrection before the Jewish Passover. Some argued that abandonment of that stipulation implies a subtle subtext of anti-Semitism, since it would further decouple the connection between Christianity and Judiasm both from a historical and contemporary perspective, the latter because it ignores contemporary Jews' yearly calculation of Passover.

After more than thirty years as a hierarch, the members of the Holy Synod of the OCA accepted Archbishop Peter's request for retirement in March, 2005. He had been on a leave of absence from the spring 2004 session of the Holy Synod. His retirement became effective [[April 30]], 2005.

After more than thirty years as a hierarch, the members of the Holy Synod of the OCA accepted Archbishop Peter's request for retirement in March, 2005. He had been on a leave of absence from the spring 2004 session of the Holy Synod. His retirement became effective [[April 30]], 2005.

Contents

Life

Archbishop Peter was born as Paul L'Huillier on December 3, 1926, in Paris, France. He embraced the Orthodox faith in 1945 while enrolled at the St. Denys Institute in Paris. L'Huillier also did graduate work at the University of Paris and received a Licentiate of Theology from the Moscow Theological Academy in 1962 and a Doctorate of Canon Law degree in 1985.

As bishop, he was a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, which granted autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in America. In 1979, he was invited to come to the young autocephalous church by His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius. He was designated as an auxiliary bishop to the Metropolitan, with the title of "Bishop of Brooklyn" until 1981.

In 1981, when the Holy Synod of Bishops established the new diocese of Washington, DC, for the seat of the Primate, he was installed as the Bishop of the remaining part of the Metropolitan's former local diocese with the title "Bishop of New York and New Jersey." In 1990, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America bestowed on him the title of Archbishop of New York and New Jersey.

Abp. Peter's linguistic fluency (in four languages), his formal degree in the Orthodox canonical traditions, his familiarity with varieties of ethnic and national Orthodox customs, made him one of the more academically involved Orthodox hierarchs worldwide. He also chaired the OCA's External Affairs Department for many years.

In the academic world, he lectured at the Institute of St. Denys, Paris, France, from 1949 to 1950. From 1952 to 1962, he taught at the Three Hierarchs Seminary in Villemoisson, France. He was a Professor at the Catholic University in Paris from 1966 to 1978. He was Adjunct Professor of Canon Law at St. Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, New York, since 1979. As a specialist in Orthodox Canon Law, Archbishop Peter occupied prominent positions. His final book, published by St. Vladimir's Press, urged the Orthodox Churches to adopt the Western Christian calculation of Easter, aka Paschalion. This has been a controversial topic for some time in Eastern Orthodox circles. Some critics of Archbishop Peter's book, and others in its vein, emphasized that only the Eastern Paschalion holds to the Nicene Council's 4th century prohibition of celebrating the Resurrection before the Jewish Passover. Some argued that abandonment of that stipulation implies a subtle subtext of anti-Semitism, since it would further decouple the connection between Christianity and Judiasm both from a historical and contemporary perspective, the latter because it ignores contemporary Jews' yearly calculation of Passover.

After more than thirty years as a hierarch, the members of the Holy Synod of the OCA accepted Archbishop Peter's request for retirement in March, 2005. He had been on a leave of absence from the spring 2004 session of the Holy Synod. His retirement became effective April 30, 2005.

Abp. Peter reposed on November 19, 2007. In 2010, the OCA Synod of Bishops abolished the merged diocese, returned the Metropolitan see to Washington, D.C., and reestablished the Diocese of New York and New Jersey. Bishop Michael (Dahulich) was appointed leader of the revitalized diocese in May, 2010.

Articles

His doctoral dissertation was published as (The Church of the Ancient Councils: The Disciplinary Work of the First Four Ecumenical Councils, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1996). [1] ISBN 0881410071

Source

Jacob's Well, Newspaper of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America, Fall/Winter 98-99, pp. 4-6